New York City has started installing 17 modular public bathrooms across all five boroughs under a $4 million, one-year pilot aimed at improving access to clean public restrooms in busy neighborhoods.
The units are free, ADA-accessible and scheduled to operate daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Throne Labs will operate, clean and maintain the facilities during the pilot.
The feature drawing the most attention is the 10-minute usage limit. Users receive several audio and visual warnings before the automated door-opening process begins, meaning the door does not simply swing open without notice when the timer reaches 10 minutes.
The 10-Minute Limit and Warning System
Users are informed about the time restriction before entering. During a session, the system provides reminders as the limit approaches, including notifications at five and eight minutes.
At 10 minutes, flashing lights and an audio message warn that time has expired. A final warning sequence continues for about 30 seconds before the door opens, giving the occupant additional time to prepare and leave.
The alerts are available in English and Spanish. Throne Labs says the limit is designed to keep bathrooms available for other people and discourage extended occupation. The company has reported that most users across its network leave well before the maximum time.
Inside the New Modular Bathrooms
The facilities are self-contained modular bathrooms rather than standard portable toilets. Each unit includes a flushing toilet, running-water sink, baby-changing station and climate control, including cooling during warmer weather and heating in colder conditions.
The units do not require direct connections to the city’s water, sewer or power infrastructure. This design can make installation and relocation less complicated than building a conventional permanent restroom.
People can gain access by text message, QR code, the Throne Bathroom Network app or physical tap cards distributed through community partners. The app can also help users locate nearby units and check availability.
Locations Across All Five Boroughs
Bronx locations include Yankee Stadium, Admiral Farragut Playground, Mapes Park and Monsignor Raul Del Valle Square. Brooklyn sites include Columbus Park, Milestone Park, Fulton Street and Truxton Street, and Avenue C Plaza.
Queens will have units at Astoria Boulevard South and 31st Street, Northern Boulevard and 31st Street, Northern Boulevard and 54th Street, and 34th Avenue and 64th Street.
Manhattan locations include Cooper Square, Malcolm X Plaza, Delancey Street and Suffolk Street, and Plaza Alianza Dominicana. Staten Island’s location is the North Shore Esplanade.
The official New York City public bathroom pilot announcement provides details on the locations, operating hours and rollout.
NYC Tests a Lower-Infrastructure Restroom Model
City officials say New York has roughly one public toilet for every 8,500 residents. Limited restroom access can particularly affect people who spend long periods away from home, including delivery workers, parents with children, older adults and people with disabilities.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also highlighted the cost difference between the modular approach and some traditional projects, saying the 17-unit pilot costs roughly what one public restroom has historically cost the city. More background on the mayor is available in this profile of Zohran Mamdani’s path to New York City mayor.
The pilot adds another test of how New York manages heavily used public infrastructure. Recent incidents such as the Penn Station fire that disrupted LIRR, Amtrak and NJ Transit service have also highlighted the importance of reliable facilities in a city used by millions of residents, workers and visitors.
Cleaning, Misuse Controls and Accessibility
Usage information will help determine when individual units need attention, with cleaning expected roughly every 10 to 15 uses depending on demand. The system can also detect certain prohibited activity, including smoking.
Although the bathrooms are ADA-accessible, there is currently no standard option for the public to extend the 10-minute session. Throne Labs has said it is working on a solution for people with mobility challenges or other circumstances that may require additional time.
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A One-Year Test for New York
The pilot will give city officials real-world information on usage, cleanliness, accessibility, maintenance and operating costs. Seventeen units will not eliminate New York’s public restroom shortage, but the trial can help determine whether modular facilities are practical for a wider network and whether changes to the 10-minute system are needed as residents begin using them.
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